There is something so contagiously magical about spending time with people who are on the verge of becoming parents for the first time. I had the honor of documenting this special time in Sam and Jason’s lives, as they prepare to welcome their son into this world. When he arrives - any day now! - one thing is for sure: his parents already love him so much.

We. Are. Just. The. Beginning.

Tuesday, August 14th is Minnesota’s Primary Election and I am so excited to cast my vote for some incredible women to help ensure they are on the ballot in November. Representational, inclusive government matters. Bold, progressive, unwavering values matter. It is time for single payer health care, time to protect reproductive rights, time to fight for economic and racial justice, time for gun reform, and time to fight climate change. And it is time for women to lead us in these efforts!

I could write volumes about the highs (trips, time with family, creative pursuits...) and lows (basically any and everything having to do with our ridiculous current presidential administration) of this year, but instead I'll just leave you with these: some of my favorite images from some of my favorite shoots and adventures over the course of 2017.

It is no secret that solid marriages are built upon much more than just love. I have no doubt that Tahira and Royce's union will be a lasting one after seeing their deep respect and affection for one another. Seeing how they take care of one another and support each other's pursuits. How they are a strong team, but don't compromise who they are as unique individuals.

"Andy is truly one of the most enrapturing people I have ever met - smart, beautiful, confident, and intriguing. She slayed during this Gucci-inspired shoot, which she also envisioned, planned, and orchestrated. Obvs."

"I could tell you Amanda's story with words - how she's the incredible curator, stylist, and vintage guru behind the shop, Tandem Vintage. How she left an unfulfilling day job to pursue her dream and is damn good at it. And how she swore to me that she was awkward on camera, but ended up finding confidence she didn't even know she had and killed it in front of my lens. But those words alone wouldn't do Amanda justice - it's the pictures we took that show her true story of beauty and strength and impeccable style."

My favorite place on earth. To celebrate my son's birthday and my own. It doesn't get much better than that.

I've photographed this place a million times and will a million more, but here are a few favorite images - attempting to show both the massive scale and the intricate beauty - of our recent trip to Lake Superior and the great north woods of Minnesota.

There is something quite magical about photographing artists in their element, doing what they love. Documenting their process, seeing their tools, getting a glimpse into the creative forces that drive them - is it mesmerizing and inspiring all at once. My experience with Bailey - a mosaic artist who works at her in-home studio - was no exception. Here are a few of my favorite images from my visit with this talented woman.

Reason #496 I love what I do: sometimes you hit it off with clients so much that you come to consider them friends. Julia is one such client - an extremely inspiring boss babe who works to empower women through yoga and wellness.

You might recognize Julia from an amazing yoga shoot we did last year. This time, she took her yoga skills to the next level, showing off some amazing acro yoga poses with her boyfriend, Nick.

The couple also wanted some more-traditional photos to document this period in their relationship. As Julia said when she first shared these images with her friends and family: "Not engaged, married or pregnant. Just in love."

True story: Beth found me by googling "Minneapolis Yoga Photographer" after her search for "Minneapolis Feminist Photographer" yielded no results. And I've been trying to figure out how to become searchable via the latter ever since.

Beth Berila's resume is impressive - she is an author, Ph.D., professor, the director of the Women's Studies Program at St. Cloud State University, and a yoga teacher and Ayurvedic Yoga specialist. Upon meeting her and collaborating with her for a couple hours, I discovered she is also a delightful human being. It was an honor to make some images with such an inspiring female powerhouse. Here are a few of my faves.

Any shoot that gives me a chance to try new skills - in this case working with a 100mm macro lens - and work with badass women is alright by me.

I was happy to reunite with my gals, hair and makeup artist Jen des Lauriers, and models, Bria Grayer and Katie Roberto, for this up-close and personal beauty shoot. Here are some of my favorites from the session which show off Jen's mad makeup skills and, of course, Bria and Katie's flawlessness.

BRIA

KATIE

It's no secret that parenting is all about finding balance: Letting your kids unleash their full creative energy while keeping your house from getting destroyed. Encouraging your kids to play freely while keeping them from hurting themselves. Letting them learn from their mistakes yet intervening to help them make good choices.

The true beauty of the newly-reopened and expanded Minnesota Children's Museum is that it reconciles these paradigms. Getting messy isn't an issue - it's encouraged. The play structures and activities are safe and - even with my avid climbers - there is little chance of injury. Opportunities to make discoveries on their own abound.

The museum understands that kids need the chance to JUST PLAY. Something children and their parents can all use a little more of.

EDITOR'S NOTE: November, 2016 rocked my world unlike any other month of any other year in recent memory. The election of Donald Trump was a game-changer - the sort of devastating, earth-shattering event that puts everything else into perspective and forever marks periods of time as "before" and "after." As such, this project stopped after 13 days. Stopped because it felt trivial and meaningless in the grand scheme of things. It stopped because I stopped - stopped my desire to create, stopped by ability to not be utterly depressed about the state of our nation.

For a long time, I simply hid this post; it served as too raw a reminder of how painful that period of time was. But as I look back at the images now, I see beauty and hope in them. Hope I was able to find even then. Albeit unfinished, the project seems to have served some small purpose and for that, it's hard not to be grateful.

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November to me is a month of warmth. Not warm in the way August is hot and sticky or the way May is balmy and breezy. It is about a sense of home and nostalgia and peacefulness that make you feel warm and fuzzy no matter the chill in the air or the darkness of the long nights. It is cozy blankets and hot beverages sipped out of oversized mugs. It is glowing fireplaces and the heart-filling laughter of family and friends. It is food that sticks to your ribs and booze that warms your belly. And most of all, it is slowing down and pausing for moments of introspection and gratitude.

For the next 30 days, I plan to offer up thanks for the things in my life - big and small, material and intangible - that fulfill me in some way. And to do so in the best manner I know how: through images.

DAY 1

I'm thankful for kids who are finally starting to realize they are better playmates than adversaries. Also, Julian just discovered he can lift Nora up and they both think it's pretty cool.

DAY 2

I am grateful for our garden. For the bounty of vegetables it produces. For the time it forces us to spend outdoors. For the fertile soil and access to clean water which allow us to grow healthy food. I am thankful that - by participating in the growing, nurturing, harvesting, and cooking of these crops - my children have an understanding of where their food comes from and an appreciation for it.

DAY 3

I am very thankful to live in a neighborhood that puts us within walking distance of parks, restaurants, a brewery, a natural foods co-op, friends' houses, and more.

DAY 4

I am thankful for the beautiful weather we have had so far this month. For the chance it has afforded us to spend extra time outside. For the prolonged season of spectacular fall colors and the way the glorious sunshine illuminated this ginkgo tree today.

DAY 5

I am thankful to be surrounded by creative and inspiring people - both those I've known for a while and those I continue to meet throughout the course of my work.

DAY 6

Thankful doesn't even begin to explain how I feel about being this girl's mama. She is independent and strong and she likes playing with tractors and her brother's ninja turtle gear just as much as she does singing to and "mothering" her babydoll. This little powerhouse waited in line for over an hour today and joined me in the (early) voting booth as I cast my vote for Hillary Clinton. The future is female and this one is going to be a force to be reckoned with.

DAY 7

I'm grateful for our dog, Oliver. Our cuddly, stinky, grumpy old man who always seems to know the right time to curl up in my lap. Like today when my election anxiety was at an all-time high and my other methods of coping (stress-eating and blasting hip hop) weren't quite doing the trick.

DAY 8

I am finding it really difficult to find something to be grateful for at this moment on this particular day. Perhaps it's times like this when stopping to look for the proverbial silver lining or giving thanks for the little things matters the most. I can't even begin to process my emotions about this election right now, but I sure do love these little kids of mine, both of whom were very excited to watch the returns tonight and neither of whom made it past 8:30 p.m. Lucky them.

DAY 9

This is not the thankfulness post I had hoped to write on November 9th. Instead of celebrating the historic shattering of glass ceilings and the triumph of love and common decency over hate and exclusion, I am left completely despondent over yesterday's election. I've cried more today than I have in a long time. Like every time I looked at my children's faces and thought about how long 4 YEARS is in the span of their lifetimes.

As this unforgettably painful day came to a close and we sat around the dinner table as a family, this little guy took it upon himself to teach us the sign language he learned at preschool today. The words? PEACE, JOY, HAPPY, and MUSIC. And there we had it: a beautiful moment of light - worthy of immense gratitude - during a dark, dark day.

DAY 10

We could all use a little more light in our lives right now. And Bruce Munro's, "Winter Lights," at the Arboretum was just the thing. I am grateful for the opportunity to preview this impressive art installation.

DAY 11

After having landed myself squarely in the depression stage of [the five stages of] grief and having suffered a migraine all day long, to say that I am grateful to my people for taking care of me would be a huge understatement. My mom - rockstar that she is - played with and read to and cared for the kids all day long. And Andrew ran point on bedtime and cooked us a special dinner AND served it to me in bed. As miserable as today was, it's hard to not feel thankful for having amazing people in my life.

DAY 12

I am thankful to have a plant-filled, light-filled, powerful-woman-filled environment in which to work and create.

DAY 13

I am so grateful to live in a city that celebrates ALL of its inhabitants regardless of sexual orientation, gender, race, religion, or immigration status.

Never doubt that a [downright massive] group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.

— Margaret Mead

On January 20th, 2017, Donald J. Trump took the oath of office to become the 45th President of the United States of America. Even now those words are hard to type and until last night, they would have stirred up deep emotions of anger and sadness and resentment within me. But today, well today is different. On this, Mr. Trump’s first full day in office, I was among millions of people nationwide (and even across the world) who responded to this threat to our democracy by taking to the streets and marching. It was inspiring. It was uplifting. Collectively, as a society that has been in mourning, it was a much needed rally cry.

The Womens March Minnesota was held simultaneously with marches across the country today, most notably the HUGE Womens March on Washington. The turnout was 5 times what was expected with nearly 100,000 people in attendance in our capital city of St. Paul, MN. Minnesotans from across the state were clearly looking for that community, that kinship, and that platform to have their voice heard after a dismal past few months and they flocked to this event in droves which provided all of the above. Despite the huge numbers, people found familiar faces among the crowds. Others exchanged knowing and sympathetic smiles with strangers. And everyone seemed to benefit from the catharsis of being able to send the collective message that racism, sexism, homophobia, hatred, intolerance, and environmental degradation will not be tolerated.

We - women, people of color, members of the LGBTQ community, immigrants, refugees, people with disabilities, survivors of sexual assault, people of all religious faiths - are not going anywhere and our voices will not be silenced.

The online magazine - a publication of NEED/WANT - showcases the "most interesting possessions of the world's most interesting people." It was a pleasure to photograph Anthony and his possessions and hear the stories behind them.

On a chilly December morning, Tia and I met at my studio, NECO, to make some images. We bonded over a love of plants and Upstate NY and Tia showed off her badass yoga prowess. She teaches at a couple different spots around Minneapolis - check out her Instagram feed for her schedule.

Nearly ten years ago, Andrew and I got married in the small fishing village of Puerto Morelos on the Mayan Riviera. We were joined by about 60 of our closest friends and family members, some of whom were experiencing this beautiful place for the first time and some of whom vacation there yearly. Puerto Morelos is a quaint, laid-back town that welcomes tourists from all over the world, but is not overly crowded. The whole-in-the-wall taco joints and shanty bars on the beach far outnumber the fancy sit-down restaurants. Locals flock to the beaches on the weekends with their families and spend the day picnicking and swimming. The coral reef off the shore - second in size only to the Great Barrier Reef - offers up some of the best snorkeling in the world.

Needless to say, it holds a very special place in our hearts.

…

On our final day in Mexico, we booked a van with Olympus Tours and brought Julian and Nora to Puerto Morelos. I was excited to show them where we tied the knot. Excited for them to see a where local families spent their time. And frankly I was excited to show off my Spanish to these kids of mine who typically groan when I try to teach it to them.

We arrived in the center of town and our driver parked near the plaza. From there, we could walk just about anywhere. We first set off to see the docks where the fishing boats anchor with their catch of the day. We watched the pelicans swooping overhead and the frigate birds riding the wind currents. We stopped at the famous lighthouse that had been tipped by a hurricane many years before and checked out the large, colorful sign reading “PUERTO MORELOS” on the promenade which was new to town since we had last visited.

We set off walking down the beach toward the spot where we got married, stopping along the way to chase sand pipers, collect seaweed, and dig in the sand. The beaches in Puerto Morelos are much different from those in Playa del Carmen where we were staying, because the waves break off shore on the reef rather than on the beach. The water is much shallower and calmer along this stretch.

When we arrived at “the spot” - the grounds of a condo complex where we had our wedding ceremony, we found a sweet couple to take a family picture of us. We found out that they had also gotten married in Puerto Morelos five years earlier and were back with their young child to celebrate their anniversary (something Andrew and I did with baby Julian for our five-year!).

We grabbed some lemonade and guacamole at a nearby the restaurant on the beach and the kids played in the sand some more.

It was hard to tear the kids away from the beach, but we decided to take the main road back to the plaza to show them what the neighborhood was like. They were fascinated to see the elementary school, the playground in the plaza, and some of the interesting architecture in the town. We finished off our visit with cones from the ice cream shop and vowed to return soon.

This was my 5th visit to Puerto Morelos - my first time was when I was a teenager - and this little slice of paradise still felt like a home away from home.

In a move that seemed fitting with the vibe of this magical town, I shot some film while there. Here are a few of my favorite images from the roll.